The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

VATICAN CITY, 15 FEB 2011 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today published the programme of Benedict XVI's forthcoming apostolic visit to the Italian cities of Aquileia and Venice, due to take place on 7 and 8 May.

The Holy Father will depart from Rome by plane in the early afternoon of 7 May. On reaching Aquileia he will meet with local citizens in Piazza Capitolo then move on to the basilica where he will attend a preparatory assembly for the Congress of Aquileia, which is due to be held at Pentecost 2012. In the late afternoon the Pope will move on to Venice where he will venerate the relics of St. Mark in the homonymous basilica.

On Sunday 8 May, Benedict XVI will preside at the celebration of the Eucharist in the park of San Giuliano at Mestre, followed by the praying of the Regina Coeli. During the afternoon, at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, he will preside at an ecclesial assembly to mark the end of the pastoral diocesan visit. Subsequently, in the city's Basilica della Salute, he will meet with representatives from the worlds of culture and the economy. Finally, he will bless the basilica's recently-restored Chapel of the Blessed Trinity and inaugurate the "Studium Generale Marcianum" Library.

The Holy Father's return flight will leave from Venice's Marco Polo airport and is scheduled to arrive in Rome at 8.30 p.m.
PV-AQUILEIA:VENICE/ VIS 20110215 (250)